After all, it was a relief that they were not going to be parted.
During the two years Nelly, indeed, had many admirers and lovers, but she was not attracted by any of them.

She was kind and friendly and engaging; but she was unconscious with her lovers, or so it seemed to the jealous, fatherly eyes, to the verge of coldness.
He often said to himself that he could not understand Nell.

None of the gay, handsome, gallant soldier lads seemed to have the least attraction in that way for her.

To be sure, she was a child, and there was plenty of time.

Why shouldn't her old father keep her for the years to come?
Unless--unless, that fellow Robin had been beforehand with the others--Robin, who had refused point-blank to be a soldier, and had even, to the General's bitter offence, actually spoken at the Oxford Union "On the Waste and Wickedness of a Standing Army." The General had nearly had a fit over that.